A bell-playing robot on display during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
The 16th annual RoboGames 2023 competition kicked off at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton on Thursday for the first time since 2018.
Bouncing back after a four-year hiatus and attracting thousands of contestants and more than 500 robots, the four-day event features tiny quarter-sized autonomous robots, hockey and soccer-playing humanoid robots, art robots and more.
This year’s participating countries include Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, and Ukraine.
RoboGames, the world’s largest robot competition, hosted its annual international event presented by Visit Tri-Valley. The family-friendly celebration of all things robotics showcased hundreds of robots from across the globe competing in more than 40 robot events, including a 250-pound robot combat, humanoid kung-fu, soccer and 11 events just for kids, along with demonstrations by leading robotics industry designers and engineers.
RoboGames was founded by David Calkins in 2004 as the ROBOlympics.
“From year to year, it’s inspiring to witness the increasingly global impact of RoboGames,” Calkins said. “We are really excited to be entering the 16th year of this truly one-of-a-kind event.”
Sharon and Al Flor, of Oakland, play a robotic hockey game during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. To the right is referee Daniel Baron. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Gary Gin, of San Leandro, makes adjustments to his robotic combat car during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) People compete in a robotic hockey game during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Connor Kaehms, 7, of Fremont, competes in a robotic hockey game during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Trevor Charisse and his son Elwood, 3, check out the sights during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Participants tinker with their projects during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Alice Lanz, 5, of San Pablo, competes in a robotic hockey game during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Matthew Olson, of Orange County, works on his robot crash car named “Ziggy Junior” during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 165th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) People compete in a crash contest with their robots during the RoboGames 2023 competition at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Both local and international participants competed in over 40 events at the 16th annual world championship. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
